Chapter 291 Introducing Ye Susu and Subduing Song Fengyi
Xie Shang was dressed in imposing armor. He had just returned from the military camp and had just arrived at the East Palace when he heard that someone was causing trouble in Chengguang Hall. He didn't even go back to Chengguang Hall and came directly to Chenxi Palace.
He strode into the main hall, and Jiang Fenghua hurriedly went to greet him, saying, "Your Highness, I pay my respects."
Immediately afterwards, the concubines of the Crown Prince also bowed, saying, "Your Highness, we pay our respects."
Xie Shang personally helped Jiang Fenghua up and pulled her to sit in the main seat. He saw a group of people kneeling below, but he didn't ask them to get up.
Jiang Fenghua quickly gestured to serve tea to the Crown Prince. As soon as the tea was brought to Xie Shang, his face turned cold. He raised the teacup and took a big gulp. With a loud crash, the teacup shattered into several pieces on the table, showing how much force he had used.
Everyone listened, their hearts trembling with fear, and they dared not even breathe. This was the first time they had ever seen the gentle and refined Crown Prince lose his temper.
Not only inside the main hall, but even the palace maids and eunuchs outside were so frightened that they curled up and knelt on the ground.
Jiang Fenghua's heart skipped a beat, but she remained seated with composure and dignity, showing no emotion.
Xie Shang said coldly, "Consort Song, tell me. I am all ears to hear what you saw and heard in Chengguang Hall. Tell me everything from beginning to end in front of the Crown Princess, including how I had you brought into Chengguang Hall. Tell me in detail." He thought someone was deliberately trying to gossip in front of Jiang Fenghua. Jiang Fenghua hit Lu Xuefei, and she also misunderstood.
Song Fengyi trembled with fear, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably, "Your Highness, I..."
Jiang Fenghua thought to herself: Xie Shang's question is really hurtful. Does he expect Song Qing to recount how he favored her?
"Someone come here," Xie Shang said in a deep voice.
Wuxin hurriedly led his men in from outside the hall, saying, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Since you can't speak, then administer the rod..."
Jiang Fenghua quickly stood up from her seat and said to Wuxin, "Everyone, please step down."
She then went to Xie Shang and bowed respectfully. “Your Majesty, I have not yet investigated this matter thoroughly. Although Consort Song saw the candidates for the imperial concubine selection in Your Majesty’s palace, she said she did not tell anyone. Even the palace maids in Hanzhang Palace said they heard the rumors from elsewhere. Your Majesty, please allow me to investigate before resorting to torture. I believe Consort Song is not so reckless.”
Xie Shang is about to set some rules, but he needs people right now. Although he knows the rumors came from Song Fengyi, he might just punish Lu Xuefei the same way she did, giving her twenty strokes of the cane and confining her for a few days, and then find a pretext to release her.
But by doing this, the person who was really instigating things behind the scenes not only went unpunished, but might even tell Song Fengyi that the Crown Prince punished them for the sake of the Crown Princess.
She has incurred hatred in front of everyone for no reason, and will offend people for no reason.
Since Song Fengyi won't be severely punished, she might as well act as a peacemaker. If Ye Susu wants to stir up trouble, then let Xie Shang completely destroy any remaining good impression he has of her!
Xie Shang, seizing the opportunity, changed his questioning approach, "Since the Crown Princess has pleaded for you, I will investigate this matter. Since the Crown Princess has said so, please continue the interrogation!"
Jiang Fenghua walked up to Song Qing and said gently, "You just said that you told Concubine Ye Liang about the selection of the imperial concubines into Chengguang Palace. Besides her, who else did you tell? Think carefully in front of His Highness the Crown Prince, otherwise I can't help you."
She wants to win over both enemies and friends; it all depends on how Ye Susu and Su Tingwan try to cause trouble.
Song Qing looked up at Jiang Fenghua and quickly said, "I really only told Sister Ye. I didn't dare to say anything. I told her secretly behind closed doors. I didn't even tell the maids around me. I really only told Sister Ye."
In fact, she had also told her confidante Dong'er. Dong'er was discreet and naturally wouldn't spread the word. That left only Ye Liangfei as the most suspicious person, the one who spread the rumor. But now the Crown Prince clearly believed that she was the one who spread it.
Song Qing had been kneeling for so long, and she wasn't stupid. She realized that Ye Liangqie had spread all of this. If it was eventually investigated, it would be Song Qing who spread rumors about the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince wanted to punish her, he would only punish her, while Ye Liangqie would get away with nothing.
Thinking about how Ye Liangfei spoke ill of the Crown Princess in front of her, she realized that Ye Susu was the most scheming one. She had actually believed her when Ye Susu pretended to be pitiful.
The Crown Princess must have realized that she was innocent when she stopped her. Since the Crown Princess was willing to help her, she only told Concubine Ye.
Song Qing suddenly felt a sense of gratitude towards the Crown Princess.
If she insists that she only told Ye Liangqie, then there will be a glimmer of hope for her.
Jiang Fenghua didn't ask Ye Susu, knowing that she would argue and pretend to be aloof, and Xie Shang would fall for her act.
Xie Shang saw Ye Susu and said coldly, "Is what Song Fengyi said true?"
Ye Susu's eyes were slightly red, and a hint of arrogance seemed to flash within them. She retorted, "Does Your Highness believe that Susu is such a person? If I say that I have not told anyone, will Your Highness believe me?" This implied that no amount of sophistry would be of any use; her character was noble, and she would disdain doing such a thing.
Xie Shang paused, thinking that although she had secretly kept the child, her merits in treating soldiers with all her heart on the frontier were still there. When the Jiangnan region was flooded and people were displaced, she, a woman, lost her loved ones, yet she still rushed forward to help the refugees. She had a compassionate heart, and her character was good.
Regardless of the circumstances, Su Tingwan drugged him, and she was forced to save him. Xie Shang remembered this favor, so he didn't criticize Ye Susu too much for scheming to keep the child.
He had said that as long as she behaved herself, he would provide her with a place to live, even a life of luxury, but if she tried to cause trouble after entering the palace, he would never forgive her.
Ye Susu knelt on the ground, looking pitiful and wronged. "If Your Highness does not believe me, you can have someone summon the maids from my palace to interrogate them and ask them if I have said a single word to them."
Xie Shang said coldly, "Summon the palace maids from Ye Liang's concubine's palace for questioning."
Jiang Fenghua curled her lips. She was indeed a master. She changed the subject so quickly. She was probably prepared. She couldn't get any evidence related to her from the maids in her palace.
Soon Ziyu, Zijuan, and the two nannies arrived, and they all bowed, saying, "This servant greets the Crown Prince and Crown Princess."
"While you serve Consort Ye, has she instructed you to go around spreading rumors about the palace?" Xie Shang said. "If you dare to tell a single lie, you will be beaten to death immediately, and your families will also be implicated. Don't take any chances and try to lie. I will have my people investigate thoroughly and they will eventually find you."
Zijuan said, "I only learned about this from the palace maids and eunuchs who were talking about it. There is a very special palace maid in Chengguang Hall. Concubine Ye Liang has not told us anything. She stays quietly in Zhongming Pavilion every day. Sometimes she goes to play with Consort Song, and Consort Song will also chat with Concubine Ye Liang." She was telling the truth.
Ziyu also said, "I only found out about this when I was chatting with Fuling and Qiuyun, who are by Song Fengyi's side."
"It is said that Poria cocos and Qiu Yun are involved."
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